This conversation just came out of nowhere didn't it? Marvellous! Thanks for setting it in motion Strike, I didn't know you were a Main Hall patron.

As has been obvious, I never play vanilla anymore (Although I am getting to the Caravel mod very shortly, which should compensate), but I can still remember vaguely what it was like, and I know that some factions carry over their qualities into XL.

Poland was the first campaign I ever made, and I have always found the Polish to be easy, in Early or High. This is not because of units, but really because it is a faction which I have always been able to 'turtle' with. Even on Hard aggression does not seem to be forthcoming from Hungaria nor the Germans and I usually conquer Novgorod first. It does not pay to pursue a constantly expansionist policy like to the Castilians, but for a landlocked faction you have relatively unchecked access to trade on the seas, reasonably peaceful borders and unlike many factions, you can expand in any direction successfully.

As for missile units (especially JAVELINS!) see my Irish campaign. Only in situations where I was outnumbered more than 3 to 1 did I require a melee engagement. If a unit is 'armed with throwing spears', that unit is now your line infantry. Get the enemy infantry to advance against a wave of javelins and thrown spears and they will suffer between 40-90% casualties.
Jinetes are marvellous, as are their XLTyb upgrade, the Andalucians. Half my Iberian army consists of javelin-armed cavalry, and spears, swords, halberds and knights don't stand a chance if you have freedom of movement.
My least favourite missile unit is the archer. They seem next to useless. I don't generally make use of any missiles other than javelins until arbalesters are available. Play a Turkish campaign in Early if you want to practice your skills in missile cavalry.
I had many a nail-bitten moment attempting to destroy 5 units of Byzantine Infantry with 3 of Turcoman horse.


Now the faction I have never been able to wrap my head around is Hungaria.
In vanilla or in mods, I always fail to make any headway with this faction, as expansion in any direction always seems to result in the loss of territory at the opposite end of the kingdom. Hungary is to me what Poland is to Cyprian! The Italian faction(s), Byzantion, Germans and especially Poles cannot stand the sight of me playing Hungaria, and I am always overrun.

But our opinions and experiences are most likely the result of individual fortunes. It is always entertaining to see that MTW plays differently for everyone and often very consistently. I have only once seen Egypt triumph over Byzantium, and yet I have seen some here complaining that Byzantium never survives in Early!

Now what faction is gollum deterred by? Surely the master tweaker himself must have a pet hate amongst the rostered monarchies?

(I would like to see a thread like this about PMTW - then gollum could tell me how it is possible to win with certain [any] factions in that mod)